Book of Acts Quiz: Persecution, Philip and Paul's Conversion

1. A young man named Saul approved of Stephen's death and then launched a great persecution against the church. What effect did this persecution have?

1. It caused many believers to recant their faith out of fear
2. It nearly destroyed the church in Jerusalem
3. It scattered the believers throughout Judea and Samaria, spreading the gospel
4. It united the church more tightly in Jerusalem

2. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah. A sorcerer named Simon was amazed by Philip's miracles and was baptised. What did Simon later try to do?

1. He claimed to be Philip's teacher and superior
2. He offered Peter and John money to give him the ability to impart the Holy Spirit
3. He tried to expose Philip as a fraud before the Samaritans
4. He went back to his sorcery after being baptised

3. An angel directed Philip to a desert road where he met an important official. Who was this man and where was he from?

1. A Greek merchant from Athens travelling to Jerusalem
2. A Roman centurion from Caesarea
3. A Samaritan elder returning from the Passover feast
4. An Ethiopian eunuch — the treasurer of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians

4. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading from the scroll of Isaiah. Which passage was he reading that gave Philip an opening to share the gospel?

1. Isaiah 40 — 'Comfort, comfort my people'
2. Isaiah 53 — 'He was led like a sheep to the slaughter'
3. Isaiah 61 — 'The Spirit of the Lord is on me'
4. Isaiah 9 — 'For to us a child is born'

5. Saul was travelling to Damascus to persecute Christians when a light from heaven flashed around him. What happened next?

1. He fell to his knees in fear but remained silent
2. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'
3. He saw a vision of the crucified Jesus standing before him
4. He was blinded immediately and struck dumb for three days

6. After his encounter with Jesus, Saul was blinded and led into Damascus. For how many days was he unable to see, eat or drink?

1. 1 day
2. 3 days
3. 40 days
4. 7 days

7. The Lord told Ananias to go to Saul. Ananias was afraid because of Saul's reputation as a persecutor. What did the Lord say about Saul's future role?

1. 'He is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel'
2. 'He will build my church in Rome and carry the gospel to the ends of the earth'
3. 'He will suffer greatly for my name — but he will bring thousands to faith'
4. 'I have chosen him to write the words of the new covenant for all nations'

8. When Saul tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem after his conversion, they were all afraid of him. Who vouched for him and brought him to the apostles?

1. Barnabas, who told the apostles how Saul had seen the Lord and preached in Damascus
2. James the brother of Jesus, who tested him with questions about his faith
3. Peter, who had heard of his conversion from Ananias
4. Stephen's brother, who had witnessed Saul's change of heart

9. Peter healed a paralysed man named Aeneas in Lydda. The man had been bedridden for eight years. What did Peter say to him?

1. 'Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.'
2. 'Brother, your faith has made you well — stand up and praise God'
3. 'In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk'
4. 'Rise up in the name of the Lord — your sins are forgiven'

10. In Joppa, Peter raised a beloved disciple named Tabitha (also called Dorcas) from the dead. What was she known for?

1. Always doing good and helping the poor — especially making robes and clothing
2. Evangelising throughout the region of Joppa and Lydda
3. Hosting the church in her large house and providing meals for the apostles
4. Prophesying and leading the women's prayer gatherings

11. Cornelius was a Roman centurion who prayed and gave generously to the poor. An angel appeared to him in a vision. What was Cornelius told to do?

1. To go to Jerusalem and present himself at the temple
2. To leave the Roman army and be baptised in the Jordan River
3. To proclaim the God of Israel to all in his household and his regiment
4. To send men to Joppa to bring Simon Peter, who would tell him what he must do

12. While waiting for Cornelius's messengers, Peter fell into a trance and saw a vision of a sheet with all kinds of animals. What did the voice tell him to do?

1. 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean'
2. 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'
3. 'Go to the Gentiles and offer them what I offer to Israel'
4. Both B and C — the vision included both commands

13. When Peter arrived at Cornelius's house and preached the gospel, what happened while he was still speaking?

1. An angel confirmed Peter's words with signs and wonders
2. Cornelius and his household immediately asked to be baptised
3. The Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message — even Gentiles
4. The whole household fell to the ground in worship

14. When Peter reported to the Jerusalem church what had happened with Cornelius, the Jewish believers initially criticised him. What was their specific complaint?

1. That he had baptised Gentiles without first requiring them to be circumcised
2. That he had gone into the house of uncircumcised men and eaten with them
3. That he had healed a Roman soldier who served the empire that oppressed Israel
4. That he had preached the gospel without the permission of the apostles

15. The church at Antioch became a major base for mission. What significant thing happened at Antioch for the first time?

1. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch
2. The first formal council of church elders was held at Antioch
3. The first Gentile church was established there
4. The New Testament scriptures were first assembled and read publicly at Antioch

16. King Herod Agrippa I had James, the brother of John, put to death. When he then arrested Peter, an angel freed Peter from prison. How many soldiers were guarding Peter?

1. 100
2. 16
3. 2
4. 4

17. When Peter was freed from prison by the angel, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. A servant girl named Rhoda answered the door. What did she do when she recognised Peter's voice?

1. She called out to the others to come and see before opening the door
2. She fainted from shock and had to be helped up by Peter
3. She opened the door and fell at his feet in joy
4. She was so overjoyed she ran back without opening the gate and told others Peter was at the door

18. Herod Agrippa I was struck down by an angel after accepting the crowd's worship of him as a god. What did Luke record about the spread of God's word immediately after?

1. But the word of God continued to spread and flourish
2. The disciples returned openly to Jerusalem and preached in the temple
3. The Roman governor issued a decree of protection for the Christian communities
4. The Sanhedrin lost its authority and the church grew throughout Judea

19. In Acts 9, Saul immediately began preaching in the Damascus synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. What was the reaction of those who heard him?

1. All were amazed and asked 'Isn't he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalem?'
2. Many believed and were baptised immediately
3. The disciples in Damascus were suspicious and tested him with difficult questions
4. The Jewish leaders welcomed him, thinking he had reformed his views

20. How did Saul escape from Damascus when the Jews conspired to kill him?

1. He disguised himself as a merchant and slipped through the city gates at night
2. He made his escape during the night while his persecutors slept
3. He was hidden in the home of Ananias until the governor changed
4. His disciples lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall at night